Britain is to have a new prime minister in the form of Theresa May, currently the home secretary. May will take office on Wednesday after the contest to become Conservative leader was unexpectedly cut short by her rival Andrea Leadsom.

New Prime Minister Theresa May showed a ruthless streak on Thursday in building a cabinet to lead Britain's exit from the European Union, while her chancellor of exchequer said he would do whatever was necessary to restore confidence in the economy.

The full extent and true nature of the “blatant hate” that has beset post-Brexit Britain is today detailed for the first time after The Independent was given exclusive access to a database of more than 500 racist incidents compiled in the weeks since the EU referendum.